A trend analysis of the skills of tomorrow 

 The Future Skills Report Chemistry 2.0 analysed over 450,000 job postings from the chemical and pharmaceutical industry between January 2020 and September 2023. It analysed job postings in the USA, EU and China. 

Here is what the study found 

Companies in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry are currently investing heavily in skills linked to agility, data science & analytics, biotechnology, sustainability, and big data. Around a quarter of all job postings analysed contain at least one skill from the areas of agility or data science & analytics. Sustainability skills are required in 19% of job postings. 

The report also takes a closer look at the different departments of companies (production, research and development, administration, etc.). The data confirms a trend that has been ongoing for some time: administration is losing importance, while production and logistics are on the rise. 

The study found that skills related to digitalisation and sustainability, as well as transversal skills, are of paramount importance for the future of the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. Six of the most wanted skills in the industry can be found in the area of transversal skills, e.g. communication skills, collaboration and leadership skills. 

Companies in the chemistry and pharmaceutical sector are already stressing the positive impact of the Future Skills Report 2.0 has had on their work. Christian Maurus, from BASF, said that: “The FSR 2.0 supports BASF in driving fact-based decisions to hire, upskill and reskill our employees, creating a dynamic and agile workforce equipped to meet the evolving needs of the future.”. Anke Heinisch, part of the Works Council, also agrees that “As part of qualified, strategic HR planning, it is essential that employees and employee representatives consider the required competencies and skills of the future. The Future Skills Report (2.0) is the ideal basis for this!”